Music-holder



(No Model.)

' A. H. MERRILL.

MUSIC HOLDER.

VN0. 255,649. Patented 1v1a1-.28,1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR H. MERRILL, OF CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT.

MUSIC-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,649, dated March 281, 1882.

Application filed November 16, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom tt may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. MERRILL, of Cromwell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Music-Holders 5 and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connec tion with the accompanying drawings andthe letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of' the same, and whichV said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a front View 5 Fig. 2, a vertical central section; Fig. 3 a front view of the device as applied to the mnsicrack.

This invention relates to an improvement in devices for holding music open upon the rack in front ofthe player, the object of the invention being to construct adevice which maybe applied to any of the racks in use without the islightest alteration of the rack itself, whereby instruments now in use may be fitted with the holder without removing the rack from the instrument; and it consists in a slotted metal plate fitted for attachment to the rack, combined with a spring holder or holders arranged to be moved along the slot in the rack to adjust them tothe different sizes of books or positions which may be required, as more fully hereinafter described.

A represents the plate, which is preferably made from sheet metal, the front having a longitudinal slot, a, and struck up to give a little projection to the front, as seen in Fig. 2, so that there maybe a space, b, in rear of the slot. This plate is fitted for attachment to the rack, preferably by making screw-holes d therein, through which screws may be introduced and driven into the rack.

B is the holdingfinger, which is preferably made from a thin elastic material, with a perforation, e, at its lower end. Through the slot a stud,j', is introduced, having a head, h, in rear of the slot, as seen in Fig. 2, the saidhead y arranged to take a bearing each side the slot.

The finger B is set over the stud, and then a nut, C, screwed onto the stud clamps the finger against the plate at any point to which it may be set. By loosening the nut the finger may be movedalong the slot to any desired position. Preferably acollar is introduced between the stud and the finger. y The stud also formsapivoton which the finger maybe turned to the right or left, as may be desirable.

On music-racks I preferably apply two of these plates, with one linger in each, as seenY in Fig. 3. I secure the plate to one of the bars of the book-rack, preferably to the base, so that one will come upon one side ofthe music or book and the other upon the opposite side, so that when the book is placed upon the rack between the twothe 1in gers may be turned, one upon one leaf and the other upon theopposite, so as to hold the book open upon the rack. lf desired, however, the slotted plate may eX- tend across the book-rack and a linger placed at each end,as seen in Fig. 1. This construction enables me to make the holding devices entirely independent of the rack, and so that they may be applied to any book-rack without any change or alteration of the rack or removal from the instrument. This device therefore makes an article complete in itself, ready for market, and which may be produced and applied by any person desiring such an attachment.

Preferably I introduce a back, D, in the plate; but this is not essential.

I do not wish to be understood as broadly claiming a book-holdin g device having springtngers pivoted to the book-rack which may be adjusted and turned upon the pages of' the book, as such, I am aware, is not new.

I am aware that slotted plates. having a spring-finger attached thereto have been applied to music racks; but this I do not claim; but

What I do claim is- As an article of manufacture, the herein-described book-holder, consisting of the slotted plate A, recessed upon its back and tted for attachment to the rack, combined wit-h the stud f, constructed with a head to take a bearing upon the inside of the rack, the stud extending outward through the slot in the plate, and a finger arranged upon said, stud outside the plate and so as to bear on the plate, with a clamping device on said stud outside thepfinger, whereby the stud and finger are made adjustable in the slot in the plate and secured at any desired position, substantially as dcscribed. t

A. H. MERRILL. Witnesses:

L. B. SMITH,

ALBERT Down.

IOO 

